Remodeling Guide: Decking (continued)
How to choose the material for your style and budget
Photograph: CPI Plastics
Plastic/Vinyl
Description Planks formed from various plastics, including PVC and recycled materials such as discarded milk jugs and detergent bottles.
Options Styles range from beige, brown, or gray slabs furrowed to resemble wood to boards embossed with graphic patterns.
Pros Impervious to moisture, stains, and fading, plastic boards can be shaped into arced forms, so design possibilities are endless.
Cons It's pricey. The panels' sheen and texture look like imitation -- rather than real -- wood. Hot grease spills (from a grill) can cause pitting.
Care Clear leaves and dirt weekly with a broom or hose. Wash yearly with a solution of dishwashing liquid (or bleach, for tough grime) and water using a soft-bristle brush.
Cost $6.50 to $8 per square foot
Shown Above Eon Ultra in Chestnut and Sandalwood. $3.15/square foot. CPI Plastics, eonoutdoor.com.
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